A New Official Takes Office

"Waaah... Grandpa wasn't killed by me. It was all those Fierce Tiger Gang bastards.

Hurry and leave. This is the only thing Grandpa left me. If you don't go, I'll report you to the authorities!"

The little girl cried as she glared furiously at Zhang Erlang, who was trying to seize her house.

Zhang Erlang gave a cold laugh. "Not you? If the Fierce Tiger Gang hadn't taken a fancy to your body and you hadn't refused them, how would Eldest Uncle have died?

You're a jinx. Why wasn't it you who died instead?

Eldest Uncle raised you through blood, sweat, and tears, only to be dragged down and killed by you in the end. If I were you, I'd die at once to atone to Eldest Uncle.

Report it to the authorities?

You think those lords care whether you live or die? It'd already be good enough if they didn't prey upon the common folk. Why would they concern themselves with your worthless little problem?

You really think that just because they wiped out the Fierce Tiger Gang, they're all upright officials who champion justice for the people?"

The little girl's face turned deathly pale. Her cousin beside her could no longer bear it and glared angrily at Zhang Erlang. "You animal! Those aren't human words! Can you blame Little Ya for that? You're her second uncle—how can you say something more vile than pigs and dogs?"

Zhang Erlang looked pleased with himself. "If it isn't her fault, is it mine?"

"You said we'd already be lucky not to prey upon the common folk?"

Zhang Erlang was still smug when an icy voice suddenly came from the side. He instinctively shifted his gaze away from Little Ya, wanting to see who was meddling.

He had barely raised his head when a scabbard rapidly filled his vision and smashed into his mouth.

"AAARGH..."

The agonizing pain made Zhang Erlang squeal like a slaughtered pig. He reached up to cover his mouth, then spat—and found his hand full of teeth mixed with blood.

He looked up in horror and saw a handsome young man in a yamen runner's uniform standing before him. It was this man who had knocked out all his front teeth with a single blow of the scabbard.

"Brother Wei..."

Old Man Zhang's granddaughter cried out in delighted surprise.

"Sir..."

Zhang Erlang opened his mouth, only to be met with another strike from the scabbard.

"Seizing another person's property and smearing the yamen's name—you've got quite the nerve. After your tongue is cut out, you can head to the mines for penal labor."

Only after striking Zhang Erlang again and knocking out all the teeth on the other side did Wei Fan feel satisfied.

"It's Lord Wei Fan!"

"Lord Wei is the most upright and incorruptible yamen runner around here!"

"When Yang Jun of the Fierce Tiger Gang tried to violate Old Man Zhang's granddaughter, it was him who stepped in and arrested Yang Jun!"

"Serves him right! His eldest uncle died, and instead of caring for his niece, he tried to seize her house. He's worse than pigs and dogs."

The moment Wei Fan appeared, people recognized him. His arrest of Yang Jun in the street had caused quite a stir in the area.

"Spare me, sir! I merely misspoke in the heat of the moment. I never meant to slander the yamen!"

Upon hearing that this was the formidable man who had dared to stand up to the Fierce Tiger Gang, Zhang Erlang grew terrified.

Those sent to the mines for penal labor were generally worked to death alive, never to return.

He hurriedly dropped to his knees and repeatedly banged his head against the ground before Wei Fan.

"Go home, little girl. If anyone bullies you again, come find me at the yamen."

After saying that, Wei Fan grabbed the kneeling Zhang Erlang, twisted his arm behind his back, and marched him away.

"Waaah... Thank you, Brother Wei..."

Old Man Zhang's granddaughter's voice sounded behind him. Wei Fan had come to her rescue once again in her time of need, and she cried her heart out.

"Please spare me, sir! I won't dare do it again!"

Seeing that Wei Fan was truly escorting him to the yamen, Zhang Erlang trembled from head to toe and begged for mercy again as they walked.

"You animal, if we weren't on the street, I'd have chopped you down with one stroke long ago. Sending you to the mines for penal labor is already letting you off easy, and you still want me to spare you?"

Wei Fan swiftly escorted Zhang Erlang to the yamen.

"Lord Wei, what crime did he commit to warrant you personally arresting someone so early in the morning?"

Wei Fan was currently basking in glory at the East District Yamen. Even Luo Wen, the squad leader, did not carry as much authority as he did. Seeing him escorting a criminal in so early, many yamen runners gathered around in curiosity.

Wei Fan said, "This animal seized his thirteen-year-old niece's house and drove her from her home to wander the streets. When she wanted to report it to the authorities, he said that we East District yamen runners only prey upon the common folk, and that even if we wiped out the Fierce Tiger Gang, we were still a nest of villains."

The moment those words were spoken, flames seemed to blaze in the eyes of the yamen runners present.

That statement had insulted every single yamen runner among them.

Not one of them believed himself truly evil. Even men like Li Shen and Wang Meng believed they were protecting more people in another way, rather than having truly extinguished their humanity.

Moreover, they had only joined forces yesterday to uproot the cancerous Fierce Tiger Gang. Everyone in the East District had praised them, and each of them was feeling like a hero. Now someone had said such things about them—how could they not be enraged?

"Bold indeed!"

"What an animal! She's your thirteen-year-old niece—how could you bear to do such a thing?"

"Constable Wei, hand him over to me. I'll show him what it truly means to prey upon the common folk."

In an instant, four or five yamen runners stepped forward and took Zhang Erlang from Wei Fan, intending to properly work him over.

The man was so frightened he nearly fainted. He no longer had the strength to walk and was carried away between two yamen runners.

Wei Fan stopped concerning himself with Zhang Erlang and began gathering his own men.

He had originally been one of Li Shen's subordinates. Now that he was taking over Li Shen's men and territory, he was not unfamiliar with them.

"Why are you here?"

As Wei Fan assembled his men, he discovered that Hu Qing was among them.

Hu Qing said, "You were short on manpower, so the squad leader assigned me to you."

Ordinarily, a constable had twelve yamen runners under him. Wei Fan had killed Li Shen, Wang Gui, and Qiu Ping, leaving him short three men.

Even with Hu Qing joining, he was still two short.

Wei Fan planned to ask Luo Wen for the remaining two once he had time.

"If you serve under me, you must report for roll call on time. Otherwise, I'll dismiss you."

Wei Fan did not believe Hu Qing's nonsense about the squad leader assigning her to him. Hu Qing must have requested it herself. As the Head Instructor's daughter, Luo Wen would not dare order her to do anything.

The yamen's Head Instructor held a rank even higher than a chief constable, though he lacked actual authority.

Hu Qing nodded, and Wei Fan said no more.

"I have a few words to say!"

This was his first day taking office, so Wei Fan felt it necessary to set down some rules.

At those words, the yamen runners below fell silent.

"You all used to follow Li Shen and abide by his rules. Now that I am taking over, you will follow mine.

My rule is this: no matter who commits a crime in my territory, arrest them all. Even if he is a clerk's son, arrest him. If he dares resist, kill him without mercy.

I want no one committing evil or breaking the law in my territory. Even demons and devils should not dare come here to commit crimes.

If you see someone committing evil or breaking the law and ignore it, your pay will be docked the first time. The second time, go home on your own.

Of course, since I am the one setting these rules, you can act without restraint. I will shoulder the consequences for everything.

If any of you feel you cannot do it, you may leave now. I will personally speak to the squad leader."

Once Wei Fan finished speaking, everyone other than Zhou Qi and Hu Qing changed expression.

Though the East District was not like the inner city, there were still many people whom yamen runners could not afford to offend. Wei Fan's rules would easily provoke people beyond their ability to handle. Two men immediately left in shame.

"Does anyone else want to leave? This is your last chance!"

Wei Fan paid no attention to the two who had left. If he continued managing his territory by Li Shen's old rules, then when the Demon Suppressing Division's guide came, he likely would not even spare him a glance.

After he said this, and seeing that Wei Fan did not pursue those who had left, another man departed.

In an instant, Wei Fan's subordinates had gone from ten to seven. He had not expected so many to remain.

"Good! By staying, you have proven that you possess some ambition. I will not let you regret one day that you did not leave. Starting today, I will occasionally take time to instruct you in martial arts.

Now, everyone follow me out onto the streets."